What makes a successful student created newsletter?

[[R-CON]MrD]

You're at university and a newsletter created by students for students is on offer. What have you seen in them (in personal experience) that works?

What sort of column, what type of news, how much imagery? a cartoon strip? Mentioning names or not?

I'm interested in producing an underground magazine, an anarchistical one when I hit university this year. Aside from costs, I'd like to make sure it doesn't fall down too flat!

[Blackhawk 5]

1 word titles about 3 letters long that fills up half the page

[daranz]

Pictures of scantily clad females, perhaps?

[General_J0k3r]

what do you mean by anarchistical? if you want to do something about anarchy, make a column about anarchist theories, politics, university politics, social issues, the stupidity of the yellow and mainstream press. u get my point.

[eddie]

Well as a seventeen year-old (yeah, I know it's not uni age but whatever) I like things short and sweet. I do like reading books and such but I don't want to spend ages on reading something that isn't a story...

Also, pictures. One should usually do it, but two's fine aswell. Obviously, the headline has to be catchy and, if it's really important/good, in bold.

Try not to use too complicated words either. While I have no problem understanding the English language and most of the words, some people I know find it harder than me to interpret information. My friend, Dav, is probably one of the most intelligent people I know but he struggles with reading complicated words.

Once again, I know I'm not a uni student but that's my thoughts.

[[R-CON]MrD]

Well, I've sorted myslef a cheap printer/scanner out to replace my crumbling gear.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/737535


If you need an all in one printer, scanner, photocopier, fax then today is your last day to see this model. I will be buying one later on when I figure how to buy on the website and pickup in store EDIT : ordered for pickup tomorrow now, i have a printer/scanner again!

You can get cheap cartridges for this model on ebay, the unit has an rrp of £90. personally I'd buy an Epson R200, but the specs on this are similar, comes with built in scanner (mines failed) doesn't do cd/dvd printing as far as I can see (only encourages piracy!), but the availability of cheap alternative carts is the bonus!

It's only got 4 carts compared to the R200's 6, here we have black, magenta, cyan and yellow. Not going to produce the most amazing photos but anyone producing a lot of photos uses jessops to save money anyhow. And mass printing will be done on an industriall photocopier for the newsletter, for consistent quality and hopefully cheaper pricing!

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When I talk about "anarchistical" writing, I merely mean outside the boundaries of the establishment. Students are known for their outspoken views on subjects even if many students are merely clones wearing the same clothes and talking about the same things in the same voices.

By knowing what works in current or previous newsletters people might have seen circulating I can better plan my own publication.

[El_Vikingo]

What about a commie magazine, rebelling against the teachers!?

[[R-DEV]bosco]

Nudity. Lots of it.

And shocking stories about teachers and fellow students, of course.

[[R-CON]MrD]

With the current issues regarding people making nasty comments about their teachers, I think that the inclusion of gossip or innuendo regarding students or teachers is a no go area.

[bigbossmatt]

join an existing organisation that makes and publishes material.. when you think you can handle making the whole magazine yourself try it...


it sounds like doing a whole mag yourself is too much work to handle. don't jump in to this business too quick, there plenty of time to learn the ropes and slowly make your way into this publishing game

good luck!